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Defendant Shayde Carolyn Weston at the start of her trial for the murder of Rau Tongia.
photo: Profile/Juan Zalama Perini
The defence lawyer for one of the accused in the Rau Tongia murder case has questioned why police believed the evidence was against their client despite messages from another woman saying she wanted to kill Tongia.
The Rau Tongia murder trial in the Wellington High Court is now in its seventh week.
Shayde Carolyn Weston, Breeze Hunt-Weston, Louise Kelly Hume and Pania Ella Waaka have all pleaded not guilty to the murder of Tungia, who prosecutors say was shot in the back as she slept at a house in Karori, Wellington, in December 2020.
A fifth woman is also set to go on trial but was excused for health reasons. Her name is being withheld.
Prosecutors allege Weston killed Tungia in revenge after attacking her. Prosecutors claim Hunter-Weston provided the car that went to Tungia’s address, which Vaca drove, and Hume helped provide the gun.
On Tuesday, the officer who interviewed Hume gave evidence that she was reluctant to give a statement to police for fear it might affect her nieces (Weston and Hunter Weston).
But police said Hume did reveal she had received text messages from the unnamed woman saying she wanted to kill Tungia.
Hume’s defence lawyer, Shane Robinson, said Hume did not speak to the woman other than asking her who she was.
Meanwhile, Shed Weston’s defense attorney, Robert Lithgow, noted that despite receiving information that the woman wanted to kill Tungia, police testified that they already believed at the time that it was Weston who pulled the trigger.
He also pointed out to the jury that no gunshot residue was found on Weston.
Lithgow isn’t the only one questioning police judgment.
Defence lawyer Pania Waaka Letizea Ord also reminded the jury that her client feared for his safety after speaking to police.
Evidence emerged last week that Waaka gave the information to police in an informal conversation during a smoking break in the station car park.
Odeh called it a police “ruse” at the time.
The police officer involved admitted that no one told Vaca that she was being recorded, and that during the interrogation, she had gone from being a witness to a suspect.
The trial continues.
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